NFL to fans: Bag those bags

The league, prompted in part by the Boston Marathon bombings, is restricting what fans can bring into stadiums.

The National Football League is banning most purses, bags and backpacks… (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO )

June 13, 2013|By Patrick Lester, Of The Morning Call

The National Football League says it's going into a prevent defense against terrorism — by banning women's pocketbooks at games.

Well, not exactly, but the league's 32 teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, will be limiting the size and type of bags that will be allowed in their stadiums during the upcoming season. The league is calling it a safety blitz designed to protect customers.

In a move prompted in part by the Boston Marathon bombings, the NFL announced Thursday that it will restrict what fans may carry into Lincoln Financial Stadium and its 31 other venues.

The league's message was clear: Don't bring in any bags if you don't have to. But it stopped short of imposing a complete ban, detailing the limited types of bags fans will be permitted to carry.

"Our fans deserve to be in a safe and secure environment," Jeffrey Miller, the NFL's vice president and chief security officer, said in a news release. "Public safety is our top priority. This will make the job of checking items much more efficient and effective."

Miller said the added measures will ensure a "better and quicker experience" for fans entering stadiums.

Fans will be allowed to bring in clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC as long as they aren't larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. The league is also allowing hand-size clutch bags and clear 1-gallon freezer bags.

As a friendly reminder, the NFL noted that teams sell team-logo clear plastic bags. Those bags couldn't be found on the NFL's website Thursday, but a company called Clear Handbags & More prices a clear plastic tote bag at $12.99. Amazon sells clear plastic tote bags for as little as $9.

The league says it has advised teams to keep a supply of clear plastic bags at stadium gates for fans who may need them.

And leave those seat cushions home, too. Those won't be allowed. Neither will coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, computer bags and camera bags. And if, for whatever reason, you have the urge to bring luggage, that's out as well. Phones, cameras and binoculars will still be permitted inside.

The league didn't address brown paper bags, the kind that New Orleans Saints fans made popular in the 1980s by wearing them on their heads in protest of their team.

The NFL says it will make exceptions for people who need to carry items for medical reasons. Those items will be inspected at a designated gate.

The Eagles announced the restrictions will be in effect for the open practices during training camp.

The added security measures were unanimously recommended by the NFL's Committee on Stadium Security, according to a news release. The league previously began using pat-downs, bag checks and metal detectors at stadium entrances.

"The NFL is banning purses, camera bags and seat cushions," tweeted one fan. "Related: I have a very comfy couch and awesome TV."

"Inconvenient, but necessary," Tweeted another. "Kudos @NFL."

The NFL says it is following the lead of colleges like Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State that have decided to impose restrictions on bags or ban them altogether. The TD Garden in Boston permits just clutch bags.

Time will tell if the ban will be met with the type of reaction the Eagles received after the team announced an unpopular hoagie ban when it opened Lincoln Financial Field in 2003. After coming under fire from fans and the media, the Eagles relented and decided to allow food in clear plastic, sandwich-size packages.